Casio F-91W, a review.

Today, I left my house without my watch. I bolted out the door to make the subway at 6:21 AM. I really should have left at 6:14 AM for the subway I needed, but this one would work if all went smoothly.

I check my watch and realize I'm looking at my wrist. "Fuck. Where is it!?" I think. I make it to where I'm going on time, and it felt utterly reckless to be watchless. I realized how accustomed I had become to precision.

I had a seven-minute window to do something when I checked my phone for the time. A few moments later, I found myself panicked at not knowing how long had elapsed. Being watchless went from my norm to seeming absolutely reckless.

My parents always used to buy me watches in an attempt to get me to assimilate to human life. They would get me fancy watches, that they liked—not actually fancy, they’re not watch people at all, they like elegance and know very little about watches. They like Skagens, which a wealthy watch collector friend of mine referred to as a “fashion watch.” This was not a compliment. He had confessed his love of watches to me after I showed him my watch. For some reason, I knew without knowing that he would be into watches. I’d seen him wearing watches but never paid any attention at all. I was surprised by his reaction to my plain watch. "Oh, that’s a nice one!" he said. Later he told me he collected watches and had over a million dollars worth of watches. He suggested which watches I should get next, naming a couple my parents had gotten me. Swatch was mentioned—a higher level of Casio, too. My parents had actually purchased that fancier Casio for me when I told them my dream watch was this simple black one. I never wore it, and it's in its box currently. I do appreciate it more now, post F-91W.

Anyways, I'd like to take the time as a 2-week-plus owner of the F-91W to explain why I love it.

Its simplicity. To me, this is a prestigious watch. I think it carries status with it. This isn’t Rolex status or heavy-hitting watch status. It’s not new iPhone model status, or an Apple Watch. But what it is, is the flip phone of watches. Functional, durable, no frills, does what is advertised well, strong battery life.

This watch is incredible. I love how it looks, the no-nonsense minimalism, the simplicity, the intuitive user interface. Excellent. This watch has an incredible timer that goes to the 1/100th of a second and times nearly an hour with the ability to separate laps. You can set an alarm, it beeps on the hour for me, and has a light to illuminate the screen. The watch was introduced in 1989. You know what else was introduced in 1989? Me. I just discovered this when I looked up this watch. Here are some other things I’ve learned: the battery will last 7 years, making it a very economical choice.

Also, this:

"The Casio F-91W is a digital watch model introduced by Casio in 1989 and has become iconic due to its simplicity, reliability, and extremely affordable price. Known for its straightforward design, the F-91W features a simple digital face with an LCD display, a daily alarm, an hourly time signal, and a 1/100th second stopwatch. It's also water-resistant, though not suitable for swimming or diving.

One of the most notable aspects of the F-91W is its battery life, which can last about seven years, making it both economical and low-maintenance. The watch's design has barely changed since its introduction, which is a testament to its enduring appeal. It's often recognized for its retro aesthetic and has been a popular choice for both practical users who need a no-frills watch and fashion enthusiasts who appreciate its vintage charm.

“Despite its innocuous appearance and low price, the F-91W has gained a somewhat controversial reputation because it has been frequently found in connection with terrorist bomb-making. This association is due to its use as a reliable and easy-to-program timer in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Despite this, the F-91W continues to be popular worldwide among a diverse audience."

Also, check out this screenshot below about who wears this watch and the two memes I made inspired by it. This is a Google search result.

Why is Osama in Bold but Obama not lol? Was google like, I know why you’re here you fuckin’ Arab? Google would. 🤷

See another shared passion at the bottom of this article.

Anyways, I love this watch. I've felt its impact in my life; I'm a watch person now, for the first time in my life. I feel very attached and am surprised by just how much a difference it has made in a couple of short weeks.

I also accidentally bought two knock-off F-91Ws, which is hilarious because the original cost me just 13 dollars. The knockoffs were 4 dollars, and the difference in quality was palpable.

I don’t use Amazon, because of having common sense about what that entails and where it leads, in addition to their atrocious human rights abuses. That said, I always utilize their database of reviews. I have a rule that I don’t buy any major electronics that have less than a 4.5/5 average rating (with many reviews).

Overall, I've become a true advocate for the F-91W. It's amazing how such a simple piece can so profoundly impact one's daily routine.

P.S I was harrased for this review, by a friend who had shit on my premature publishing of this article, which she emphasized did not adequately highlight the F-91W’s features or excellence. While she was correct, the article aimed to celebrate my purchase and wasn’t intended to be a review. I’ll review the watch again one year from now as our bond matures.

Alright that’s my time. Thanks for reading.